ting themselves into the hands of the Lord (I Peter 2:21). Christ has left us the perfect example. We are to pattern our reaction to suffering according to the way He faced similar problems and situations. Jesus wept real tears over Jerusa lem (Matthew 23:37). He certainly knew human disappointments. You may think yourself to be a real fail ure, lacking any purpose in life, but Christ knows all about it. He became like you in all of your dis appointments. As a result He is able to understand your sorrows. Would you let Him make you like Him self in disappointments? Christ cast Himself upon Cod's love. If you will do that, my friend, the Lord will soothe your disappointments. He will give you a new purpose in life, pointing you with confidence toward the day when all things will come to perfection in Christ. EXAMPLE IN SERVICE We can be extremely grateful to the Lord for the perfect example of Christian service and attitude He revealed in His own life as a pat tern to be emulated by every be liever. We find this clearly defined for us in Philippians 2:5-11. This section graphically pictures the de scent of our Lord from the highest position in the universe down to His death on the cross, only to be taken back into glory where we see Him seated once again at the right hand of the Father. Notice the important words, "And being found in fashion as a man, he hum bled himself, and became obedi ent unto death, even the death of the cross." We go to the Scriptures for an understanding of salvation, but we come to the cross for an understanding of the Bible. Cal-
ing Himself in a situation that was not of the Lord's leading while expecting a supernatural deliver ance. We are tried in this way, too. So often we get into trouble be cause of our own willfulness and then expect Cod to move in and bring a blessing. This is not ven turing out in faith. Faith is rather believing God's Word and then acting upon it. We are not to tempt the Lord in this way. The third was a vocational temp tation. The devil knew that Christ would someday receive the king doms of this world as was prophe sied in Psalm 2. Satan was arguing that the Saviour could receive the prize without even working for it. He scorned Him for choosing the way of the cross. The devil would give Him all of these things if only worship would be devoted to the prince of the power of this air. Again, he was turned back with Scripture. Christ shows complete victory in all of these areas in the way He handled the situations. Do you stand in similar circumstances today? Christ knows it. He has ex perienced all of these things and offers to help you if you will come Jesus not only became like us in temptation but also became like us in suffering. This wonderful truth runs throughout the whole Bible. A great example is found in the book of I Peter. The Apostle was writing to Christians who were liv ing in tremendous persecution and privation. Yet there was positive hope for their faithful stand. These Christians were exhorted to suffer patiently, without backbiting, with out anger or bitterness, commit to Him through faith. EXAMPLE IN SUFFERING
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